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“You plan on folding that the entire time we’re here?”

Peering up, I hold my breath, waiting for him to tell me how much I disgust him. I’m used to it, after being taken. Dad’s guards always looked at me like they needed to walk on eggshells around me.

“You know your scars don’t define you, right?” Jace looks away, peering over the lake. “When I was fourteen, my mother was so high and drunk that one night she tried to have sex with me because she thought I was my father.”

My head snaps to his, confusion seeping in. I knew his mother was a piece of shit when he told me about him ending up in the hospital that one time. But from the sounds of it, there’s a lot more.

“She didn’t get that far before I finally stopped her, and when I did, she got embarrassed about what she was just about to do and hit me with a bottle. My father came home and found me bleeding and her screaming about me tryingto touch her. He took her side like he always did and that was the first time he hit me.”

Tears form in my eyes. I hate that he went through that. I might hate my father because of what he does for a living, because he and Tobias were the reason I was taken. But I’m a spoiled brat; my childhood was decent.

“You don’t need to cry for me, Sunshine,” Jace whispers, brushing a tear that fell down my cheek. “They don’t deserve your tears.Idon’t deserve your tears.”

I’m immediately shaking my head. Doesn’t he realize he deserves the world? Jace has shown me it doesn’t matter the length of time you know someone. It’s not always about the time, it’s the broken ones that can connect.

“I know Ryker is a lot, but his past is his and I don’t want to betray that. I’ve known him for fifteen years, and while he pushes many limits, he’s… somewhat harmless,” Jace tries to defend him.

I give him a silent snort. Harmless, sure.

Jace gives me a side eye, before scooting back, opening, and closing his mouth before finally growling out, “Blake.”

Pushing my lips out, I pretend to zip my mouth shut.

“He touched you, didn’t he?” The way he growls each word out, it’s not a question. I can’t look at him, and even worse I can’t tell him I, somewhat,microscopically, like Ryker touching me.

“Blake, look at me,” Jace orders. I shake my head. I can feel his possessiveness fuming off his body. “I’ll kill him.”

I twist my head towards him so fast I get a cramp in my neck. Jace's eyes narrow, his left eye twitching, and his lips grow thin.

The moment Jace moves to stand, I grab ahold of his bicep, stopping him. I don’t understand why I don’t want him to go kill, or at least throw a few good punches, at Ryker’s stupid masked face. But the idea of getting in between a friendship that has lasted as long as they have, I can’t. I won’t.

I shake my head again, digging my nails into his skin.

“Blake, he touched you. You don’t deserve that, and you can’t even fucking speak—”

I shove him off the boulder, his body landing with a thud. Grabbing the knife from my pocket, I move down, straddling him before he even realizes what I’m doing.

“What are y—” Cutting him off, I hold the knife to his throat. I hope he understands what I’m trying to tell him without having to use my hands or the stupid whiteboard.

“Blake, what are you doing?” Jace whispers. Even if he tries to hide it, I feel his cock harden under my butt. Rolling my eyes, I poke the tip of the blade into his skin, wondering if he would stop me or let me cut him. Ryker might want to cut into me, to make me bleed, but little does he know, I’ve grown to like the pain. I want to feel someone cutting into my skin, licking my blood, and have their way with me. It might be wrong, it might not make sense, not with what happened.

“I won’t let him hurt you,” he mumbles, not fearing that the knife I’m holding is against his jugular. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

I nod my head, pressing the tip harder against his skin. Jace hisses when the knife nicks him. I feel the wetness between my legs,that’s new.I knew I didn’t mind pain when I would cut myself and become horny, but now sitting on top of Jace, feeling his hard cock against my backside.

I want him.

And somewhere inside the darker part of me, I want Ryker too.

16

My bedroom door creaks open, I know who it is before I even glance over. Jace and Blake went to the lake today because Jace was upset with me. He had asked for me to go to the store and grab some things and by the time I got back they were in bed. I couldn’t figure out why he was upset with me; he didn’t have to know everything about me.

“Hi, pet.” I smile under my mask, knowing she hates that nickname. Under the moonlight I see her hands moving,asshole.

When Jace told me about this protection job, we both assumed it was some guy needing protection. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would be a girl, a mute one at that. I find myself enjoying her being uncomfortable. And imagine my surprise that she’s not bad on the eyes. Her dark brown hair makes me want to wrap it around my wrist, while I shove her face underwater. I want to lick the curve of her thick thighs and bury my face in her pussy. Would she suffocate me? I wouldn’t mind going out that way. Death by pussy… my headstone would be remembered by everyone.

“Well, do you plan on standing by the door the entire time, or are you going to come in?” I ask, throwing my hands under my head.